Old Edwards Reserve at Lake Keowee brings the experience and hospitality standards of Old Edwards to one of the Southeast's most sought-after lake destinations. Set along Lake Keowee in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Reserve is a private, gated community combining lakefront living, private golf, a marina, dining, wellness, outdoor recreation, and a growing collection of residential opportunities.
The community encompasses approximately 3,900 acres and is home to more than 700 property owners. Old Edwards Reserve is entering an exciting chapter, with new residential offerings and additional golf and lifestyle amenities expanding an already established private club experience. For buyers considering Lake Keowee, the appeal is not simply a house or a golf course. It is the combination of Old Edwards Hospitality, private-club living, Lake Keowee access, and the natural beauty of the South Carolina mountains.
Community Overview
Old Edwards hospitality, the Lake Keowee setting, and the community's next chapter.
Old Edwards Hospitality at Lake Keowee
Old Edwards Reserve is part of the Old Edwards family of properties, the hospitality organization known for its luxury accommodations, dining, wellness, and private-club experiences in Highlands, North Carolina. That connection is central to the Reserve's identity. Rather than treating hospitality as an occasional amenity, the Old Edwards philosophy emphasizes service, food and beverage, wellness, recreation, and the details of everyday club life. For Reserve members, that experience extends beyond Lake Keowee through the broader Old Edwards network, including access and reciprocal opportunities associated with Old Edwards properties in Highlands. The result is a private community where the club experience is designed to feel polished and personal while remaining rooted in the landscape and culture of the Carolina mountains.
The Lake Keowee Setting in Sunset, SC
The Reserve occupies a significant stretch of Lake Keowee, with approximately 30 miles of shoreline within the broader community. The setting is one of its defining characteristics. Lake views, wooded hillsides, natural elevation changes, and long mountain vistas create a landscape that feels distinctly different from a conventional suburban country club development.
Waterfront ownership provides the opportunity to make Lake Keowee part of everyday life, from boating and fishing to paddle sports, swimming, and quiet mornings along the shoreline. For buyers considering a lakefront property, however, every homesite is different. Shoreline characteristics, water depth, orientation, topography, views, and dock considerations should all be evaluated on an individual-property basis.
An Established Community Entering Its Next Chapter
The Reserve is an established private community with more than 700 property owners, while also entering a period of renewed development. That distinction matters for today's buyer. The community combines an existing residential base and mature club infrastructure with new opportunities that are expanding the Reserve's lifestyle offering.
Laurel Village
Laurel Village represents the first new real estate offering at the Reserve in more than two decades. The development introduces 24 three- and four-bedroom cottages overlooking Laurel Pond, providing a more turnkey ownership option within the community. It is also a short cart ride from the heart of the community's most vibrant hubs of activity, including The Orchard House, marina, and pool.
For a closer look at how the new offerings compare with existing inventory, see the new offerings versus resale guide.
Homes & Real Estate
Established custom homes, lakefront properties, and golf and view homesites.
The Reserve offers a range of residential opportunities, from established custom homes to lakefront and golf-oriented properties and newly introduced residences.
Custom Homes
Many existing Reserve residences reflect the architecture and landscape of the Carolina mountains, with homes designed around wooded settings, golf views, lake access, and the property's natural topography. Rather than applying a single architectural formula across every property, the strongest homes tend to respond specifically to their site, taking advantage of views, privacy, elevation, and outdoor living opportunities. For buyers considering an existing home, condition, renovation history, orientation, views, shoreline characteristics, and membership status can be just as important as square footage.
Lakefront Properties
Lakefront ownership remains one of the Reserve's defining opportunities. Individual properties vary considerably, so buyers should evaluate each waterfront homesite based on:
- Water depth and shoreline characteristics
- Dock and permitting considerations
- Orientation and sunset or sunrise exposure
- Open-water versus protected-cove positioning
- Topography and building envelope
- Privacy and neighboring development
- Existing improvements and potential for future construction
The Old Edwards Reserve homesite guide walks through how these factors differ lot by lot.
Golf & View Properties
Homes and homesites away from the water can offer their own advantages, including golf-course exposure, mountain views, wooded privacy, and convenient access to club amenities. For buyers who prioritize golf, entertaining, or privacy over direct waterfront ownership, these properties provide an attractive balance of setting and lifestyle.
Golf at Old Edwards Reserve
A Jack Nicklaus Signature course, expanded practice facilities, and a new short course.
Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf
At the center of the Reserve's club experience is its Jack Nicklaus Signature 18-hole golf course. Tee off on the well-groomed fairways and challenging greens of a nationally acclaimed course, where you will also find a practice range, short game area, and putting green.
The Strut
A new short course, The Strut, designed by Beau Welling, represents another significant addition to the Reserve's golf offering. The short-course experience reflects a broader evolution of the community toward a more complete golf-and-lifestyle membership, beyond the traditional 18-hole round.
More detail on the course, practice facilities, and golf membership is in the Old Edwards Golf Club guide.
Club Life on Lake Keowee
Dining, the marina, and the wellness and recreation programming behind daily life at the Reserve.
Clubhouse & Dining
Current offerings include The Orchard House, The Pub, The Market, The Pool Kitchen & Bar, and Caddie Corner. Multiple dining options create flexibility for members, from a casual meal after a morning on Lake Keowee to dinner with friends, family gatherings, and ongoing community events.
Marina & Lake Life
A Private Marina
The Reserve's private marina provides direct access to Lake Keowee with amenities such as electricity, fuel, and ice. Slip availability can be limited, however, and buyers should verify current availability and waitlist conditions as part of their membership and property due diligence. Beyond boating, Lake Keowee provides opportunities for fishing, paddle sports, swimming, and exploring the lake's coves and shoreline.
Wellness, Recreation & Outdoor Life
Life at the Reserve extends well beyond golf. Members have access to a broad range of recreational and wellness amenities, including:
- Wellness and fitness center
- Seasonal pools
- Tennis complex
- Pickleball courts
- Hiking trails
- Fishing
- Marina with electricity, fuel, and ice
- Direct access to Lake Keowee and Laurel Pond
The surrounding region adds another layer to the lifestyle. The Reserve sits within easy reach of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake Jocassee, waterfalls, hiking, paddling, fly fishing, and other outdoor destinations throughout the Upstate.
Membership & Old Edwards Access
What to confirm about club structure, fees, and privileges before you go under contract.
Membership is an important part of evaluating any Reserve property. Buyers should look beyond the house itself and understand the current membership structure, applicable initiation and annual fees, transfer requirements, club access, marina privileges, and any waiting list. Because membership programs and privileges can change, buyers should obtain the current membership documentation and confirm the precise rights associated with a particular property before entering into a purchase contract.
Buying at Old Edwards Reserve
Why two similar-looking Reserve properties can deliver very different ownership.
The Right Property is About More Than Square Footage
Lake Keowee buyers often begin with questions about price, bedrooms, and square footage. At the Reserve, the more important questions can be much more specific. Where is the property positioned? What are the dock and shoreline considerations? What membership accompanies the property? Two homes with similar size and price can offer dramatically different ownership experiences. That is why Reserve properties are best evaluated individually rather than against broad community averages.
The Old Edwards Reserve buyer guide and the questions to ask before buying cover the process in sequence.
Build vs. Buy
For buyers considering a homesite, the decision between building and purchasing an existing home requires a different analysis. Building provides the opportunity to create a residence specifically around the property's views, topography, lifestyle priorities, and architectural preferences. An existing home can provide a faster path to ownership and allow buyers to see exactly how the residence functions within its setting. The right decision depends on the individual property, the buyer's timeline, construction objectives, and tolerance for the additional complexity of a custom project. Architectural and community review requirements should be evaluated early in the process, along with current construction guidelines, building timelines, site restrictions, and applicable fees.
See the Lake Keowee build versus buy guide for the side-by-side framework.
Buying a Lakefront Home
Lakefront properties deserve additional due diligence. A beautiful view does not necessarily mean a particular shoreline is ideal for boating or a private dock. Before purchasing, buyers should investigate:
- Current dock status and permitting
- Shoreline and water conditions
- Water depth
- Property boundaries
- Easements and restrictions
- Architectural review requirements
- Future construction possibilities
The dock and shoreline guide and the waterfront inspection guide cover how to verify each of these for a specific address.
Why Buyers Choose Old Edwards Reserve
The combination that is difficult to assemble anywhere else on the lake.
The Reserve appeals to buyers who want several things at once.
- Lake Keowee access. A private community where boating and lake recreation can become part of everyday life.
- Exceptional golf. A Jack Nicklaus Signature course supported by extensive practice facilities and an expanding golf program.
- Old Edwards Hospitality. A connection to one of the Carolina mountains' best-known luxury hospitality brands.
- A complete club lifestyle. Dining, wellness, fitness, tennis, pickleball, pools, golf, boating, and outdoor recreation in one community.
- Mountain and lake scenery. A setting that combines Lake Keowee with the foothills and Blue Ridge landscape.
- An evolving community. New residential and golf offerings are adding another chapter to an established private community.
- Regional access. Convenient access to Greenville, SC, Clemson, SC and Atlanta, GA.
Comparing options? See Old Edwards Reserve versus The Cliffs and Old Edwards Reserve versus Keowee Key, or plan a visit with the Reserve tour itinerary.
Selling at Old Edwards Reserve
A thinner comparable set, a specific buyer, and a marketing plan built for both.
Pricing Strategy
A defensible Reserve list price is built from a more limited comparable set than the Cliffs communities, because turnover is lower, supplemented by a careful read of current active inventory, the home's specific orientation, finish vintage, and dock situation. Reserve sellers benefit from a pre-MLS strategy more often than Cliffs sellers do.
Luxury Marketing Plan
Selling a Reserve property requires more than placing a home on the MLS and waiting for the right buyer. The audience for these properties is often highly specific: buyers looking for Lake Keowee, private golf, boating, mountain living, and the Old Edwards experience simultaneously. A successful strategy should communicate the entire ownership experience, not simply the home's specifications. Professional aerial and twilight photography, a custom property site, Compass national network syndication, and targeted feeder-market paid placement are the baseline. See the full luxury marketing plan.
For the seller process end to end, see selling in Old Edwards Reserve.
Living at Old Edwards Reserve
An established private community entering its next chapter.
Old Edwards Reserve has matured into one of the most notable private communities on Lake Keowee while continuing to evolve. Its appeal comes from the combination of elements that are difficult to replicate in a single property: Lake Keowee, mountain scenery, private golf, boating, dining, wellness, outdoor recreation, and the Old Edwards approach to hospitality.
The opportunity today is not simply to buy a home on Lake Keowee. It is to become part of an established private community that is entering its next chapter.
Community sources and current terms
This community overview was updated from David Vandeputte's information on September 21, 2026. For the community's own descriptions and announcements, see the official Old Edwards Reserve website, checked September 27, 2026. Its Laurel Village page describes 24 cottages, and the Lifestyle Fund page reports more than 700 property owners. The community amenity page describes the marina services. These are operator descriptions, not a current availability count. Amenity descriptions can include plans as well as operating facilities. Confirm completion status, membership eligibility, fees, marina availability and property-specific rights directly with the club and the relevant property documents before relying on them.
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